CVE-2026-17794 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2026
Insufficient validation of untrusted input in Mobile in Google Chrome on Android prior to 151.0.7922.72 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to spoof the contents of the Omnibox (URL bar) via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome's mobile implementation on Android platforms, specifically affecting versions prior to 151.0.7922.72. The issue stems from insufficient validation of untrusted input within the browser's renderer process, creating a path for remote attackers to manipulate the Omnibox display through maliciously crafted HTML content. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of input sanitization failures and user interface manipulation, where an attacker with compromised renderer privileges can deceive users about the true destination of web navigation.
The technical exploitation involves leveraging the renderer process compromise to inject malicious content that bypasses Chrome's normal input validation mechanisms for URL display. This allows attackers to spoof the Omnibox contents, potentially displaying fake URLs or misleading information that appears legitimate to unsuspecting users. The flaw specifically targets the browser's user interface rendering logic, where untrusted HTML content can influence how URLs are presented without proper verification of their authenticity or integrity. This represents a classic case of insufficient input validation, which aligns with CWE-20 - Improper Input Validation, and demonstrates how seemingly benign user interface elements can become attack vectors when proper security controls are absent.
The operational impact extends beyond simple deception, as this vulnerability could enable sophisticated phishing attacks where users might be tricked into believing they are visiting legitimate websites while actually navigating to malicious destinations. The medium severity classification reflects the fact that exploitation requires a compromised renderer process, which is not trivial, but the potential for user deception and subsequent credential theft or data compromise makes this a significant concern. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability as part of multi-stage attacks where initial compromise occurs through other means, followed by UI manipulation to further deceive victims.
The attack vector demonstrates how browser security models can be undermined when input validation is insufficient at critical interface points. This particular flaw highlights the importance of defense in depth principles in browser architecture, where multiple layers of validation should protect against manipulation of user-facing elements. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it likely involves JavaScript-based exploitation to manipulate DOM elements that control Omnibox display. Security professionals should note that this issue underscores the necessity of validating all user-supplied input at multiple points in the application lifecycle, particularly when that input influences security-critical UI elements. Organizations should prioritize updating affected Chrome versions and implementing additional monitoring for unusual rendering behaviors that might indicate exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies include immediate deployment of Chrome updates to version 151.0.7922.72 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the input validation deficiencies. Network administrators should implement additional monitoring for suspicious JavaScript behavior and DOM manipulations that could indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Browser security teams should consider implementing stricter input validation for all UI elements that display user-provided content, particularly those that might influence user trust decisions. The incident serves as a reminder of the critical importance of validating all untrusted input, especially in security-sensitive contexts where user interface deception can have severe consequences.